It’s that time of year. The birds are singing, buds are appearing on trees and daffodils and tulips are in bloom. It’s hard to not get too excited and start planting things. But before you do, there are some steps you should take to ensure that your garden, whether it’s flower or vegetable or both will be the best! First, clean out all your gardening areas. Remove dead leaves and brush from around your perennials. Fall is the best time to add compost, so it has time to boost your soil. If you didn’t do it in the fall, you can still add some now.
Compost provides organic matter and natural nutrients for flowers and vegetables. You can also add coffee grounds as fertilizer. I empty my K-cups into a jar and weekly sprinkle it onto the soil. Coffee grounds make great fertilizer because they contain several key ingredients required for plant growth. They can also help attract worms and decrease the concentrations of heavy metals in the soil. Now look at your garden.
What worked and what didn’t? The placement of plants is key to their success. Do they need full or part sun? Remember a sunny spot in your garden now, may be shaded after the trees have bloomed. Second thing to consider, is what type of soil you have. Not every plant works in all types of soil.
Where I live the soil is sandy. For herbs, Lavender, eucalyptus, and Rosemary all do well. For flowers, Black Eyed Susan’s, and Salvia work well. Salvia is one of the easiest to grow. Whether you’re an expert gardener or a first-time grower, you’ll get months of vibrant, re-blooming flowers. This low-maintenance showstopper is also drought tolerant, once established, and resistant to deer and rabbits. After you have cleaned out the beds and garden area, take some time to research what works best in your area. Google is a great source. Take your time. Plan your garden out on paper. For the next few weeks, we will do this together, step by step. I will cover flowers, herbs, and vegetables. I’ll share my successes and epic failures! For now, put on some sunscreen, clean out those beds and get ready for a great summer harvest! For questions or comments you can reach me at SixtiesAndSexy@gmail.com or follow me on SixtiesAndSexy.net.
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